Sylvia Jefferies, who played Hayden Panettiere’s on-screen mother in “Nashville,” recently reflected on the struggles the late actress faced, stating her “demons” became overwhelmingly burdensome before her untimely passing.
Jefferies expressed her sorrow on Instagram, writing, “This news has hit me deeply. I’ve needed time today to process the reality that Hayden is no longer with us.”
In her heartfelt message, Jefferies candidly spoke of the challenges Panettiere presented, recalling, “Sometimes, being around Hayden was difficult; I once likened her to a whirlwind. Yet, she was our whirlwind,” reflecting on her vibrant and unpredictable nature.
She poetically described the actress, saying, “She was like the initial sunburst, the gentle mist, the escalating storm, encompassing everything around her, until the rain subsided, bringing back calm, the sunshine in her eyes, and the delightful giggle in her voice.”
The 57-year-old actress acknowledged that while Panettiere had a “remarkably promising future,” the internal battles she faced were sometimes insurmountable.
“I pause as I reflect on her, looking at photos, remembering scenes, listening to voicemails, and remembering the first time she called me ‘Mama’ while she shared stories of her youth. We seemed far apart, but we were very close in our hearts,” the “Walker Payne” actress penned.
Jefferies said she and the “Heroes” alum “reconnected” after the former read the latter’s new memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” earlier this year and had made plans to see each other.
This story is being updated…